Thursday, November 10, 2011

Madison -- Today Rep. Jon Richards offered the Democratic Weekly Radio Address. The topic for this week’s address is the Walker Adminstration's plan to cut more than a half-billion from health care for working families, children and seniors.

“Life-altering decisions to cut more than $550 million from health care are now being made with almost no legislative oversight," said Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee). "As a result of Gov. Walker’s power grab, people will lose their health care. And the way Republicans are approaching the cuts leaves the impression that they do not care."

Governor Walker and Republicans in the legislature chose to give $2.3 billion in tax breaks to big corporations and reward special interest groups instead of making sure Wisconsin families do not lose their health care.

Democrats strongly disagree.

Life-altering decisions to cut more than $550 million from health care are now being made with almost no legislative oversight and little public input because Gov. Walker gave this power to one of his political appointees.

As a result of Gov. Walker’s power grab, people will lose their health care. And the way Republicans are approaching the cuts leaves the impression that they do not care.

The governor’s plan to cut more than a half-billion from health care for working families, children and seniors has been hatched for months behind closed doors. And the governor says he will drop health coverage for 53,000 Wisconsin residents if this plan is not approved by the federal government this year.

Given the potential consequence, I submitted an open records request to see how the Walker Administration was working with the federal government.

The result was shocking. Gov. Walker’s top health official waited more than three months to contact the federal agency responsible for reviewing his plan. When the agency asked for more information, it never received any reply.

This is a clear signal that Gov. Walker will do little to prevent thousands of Wisconsin families from losing their health care. He even punishes children if their parents miss a premium payment on BadgerCare.

That does not fit with Wisconsin values. Last year, Wisconsin ranked first in the nation for health-care quality and second for health-care access. Because of innovative, bipartisan programs like BadgerCare, 98% of our residents have had access to quality, affordable health care.

Now Gov. Walker is moving Wisconsin backward at a time when families can least afford additional costs. And taxpayers can’t afford the results of these shortsighted actions.

The fact is that Gov. Walker’s plan will increase the number of uninsured. Families will be forced to forgo treatment and rely on expensive emergency rooms when they get sick. This drives up health-care costs for everyone.

Tough choices are necessary. Our state’s health programs must be cost-effective and efficient. But Gov. Walker’s plan eliminates health care for thousands of working families and puts our children at risk. That is not a choice Wisconsin can afford.